Category Archives: Texas Legislature

The 85th Legislative Session has come to a close. Here is a look at some of the key agriculture-related bills considered in Austin this year. Given the total number of bills introduced, this is not an exhaustive list of every bill that came up this session, but instead highlights some of the more important and more popular bills related to agriculture. To look up more information about any of these bills or to search for other bills by number or topic, visit Texas Legislature Online. BILLS THAT PASSED Farm Products/Commodities HB… Read More →

How is it already September? Not that I’m complaining about the cool, rainy weather we’ve been seeing this week here in the Panhandle! Here are a few of the ag law stories in the news this week. * Texas Railroad Commission Failed to Track Oilfield Waste Injections Into Groundwater Zones. In the first of several clips involving the Texas RRC we will see today, the Texas Tribune published an article claiming that even though the RRC agreed to track injections into zones that could hold drinking water sources… Read More →

Now that the 2015 Texas Legislative Session has ended, I wanted to highlight some agricultural-related bills considered in Austin this session. For those of you not familiar with Texas politics, our legislature meets only every-other year. At the close of the session, there are three things that can happen to any bills on the governor’s desk: (1) the governor has 20 days to sign the bill, making it law; (2) the governor has 20 days to veto the bill; or (3) if no action is taken within the 20 day… Read More →

This week I gave two presentations via the internet to folks in San Angelo and in Jefferson County. To those of you new to the blog from these presentations, welcome! It’s been another busy week in the agricultural law realm. * Hays County Groundwater Bill on Governor’s Desk. The Texas Legislature passed HB 3405, known as the Hays County Groundwater Bill, sending it on to Governor Abbo[Read article here.] As you likely recall from prior blog posts, Hays County finds itself in the middle of a groundwater battle… Read More →

Happy Friday! This week I was able to visit with the Camp County Cattleman’s Association via the internet at their monthly meeting about some Frequently Asked Ag Law Questions. I thank Spencer Perkins for the chance to visit with that group and welcome those new readers joining from that event! It has been a busy ag law week, with lots of Texas-specific stories in the news. *Governor Abbott Signs “Local Fracking Ban Ban” Into Law. On Monday, I blogged about the bill on Governor Abbott’s desk that would… Read More →

If you have read this blog for any period of time, you know that local fracking and oil and gas production bans, such as the one passed by Denton voters last November, are a frequent topic of discussion. Now, the Texas Legislature has passed a bill that would prevent these type of local production bans. The bill is now on the desk of Governor Abbott for his signature. The Bill House Bill 40, called by many the “Denton Fracking Bill” was passed by the House (vote of 26-5)… Read More →

This week I traveled to Andrews, Texas to speak at the Sandhills Beef Conference. Thanks to Caleb Eaton for the invitation to come and speak on grazing leases. To those of you joining the blog from that presentation, welcome! Here are a couple of at law stories in the news this week. * Texas Legislators Eye Gulf To Solve Water Issues. The Texas Tribune published a great article discussing proposed bills in Austin related to turning to the gulf and desalination to solve Texas’ ongoing water problems. As… Read More →

**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Now that the Texas Legislature has completed its regular session and first special session, I have compiled a list of the major water-related bills considered by the 83rd Texas Legislature. Not surprisingly given the current drought, water was a major issue considered by the Legislature. The complete text of any bill below may be viewed at Texas Legislature Online by simply entering the bill number. Bills that passed the Legislature and were signed by the Governor HB… Read More →

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